Fantasy Football Week 6 Rankings: RB

For obvious reasons, it's hard for us to let go of LaDainian Tomlinson as an elite fantasy football running back. This was a guy who gained at least 1,776 yards from scrimmage and scored at least 15 times from 2002-2007 -- with peaks being 2,370 total yards and 31 total touchdowns. Yet, he's reached age 30 and has fallen from his lofty perch atop the fantasy world.

Now, after a bye week to lick his mental and physical wounds, we're left wondering if we're gonna see the LdT of old, or just an old LdT. He's got a tough task against the upstart Denver defense, who check in as the sixth-ranked run defense in the NFL and have only allowed 3.3 yards per carry. If Tomlinson appears to have his old burst and agility but doesn't pile up the stats, he'll be a good buy-low with the Chiefs and Raiders on deck. If not, well, have fun keeping the faith. You'll be doing it without me.

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1. Adrian Peterson, MIN vs. BAL
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX vs. STL
3. Cedric Benson, CIN vs. HOU
4. Ryan Grant, GB vs. DET
5. Brian Westbrook, PHI at OAK
6. Steven Jackson, STL at JAX
7. Thomas Jones, NYJ vs. BUF
8. Matt Forte, CHI at ATL
9. Michael Turner, ATL vs. CHI
10. DeAngelo Williams, CAR at TB
11. Chris Johnson, TEN at NE
12. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT vs. CLE
13. Knowshon Moreno, DEN at SD
14. Clinton Portis, WAS vs. KC
15. Brandon Jacobs, NYG at NO
16. Steve Slaton, HOU at CIN
17. Ray Rice, BAL at MIN
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, SD vs. DEN
19. Kevin Smith, DET at GB
20. Tim Hightower, ARI at SEA
21. Cadillac Williams, TB vs. CAR
22. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG at NO
23. Marshawn Lynch, BUF at NYJ
24. LeSean McCoy, PHI at OAK
25. Sammy Morris, NE vs. TEN
26. Jonathan Stewart, CAR at TB
27. Leon Washington, NYJ vs. BUF
28. Reggie Bush, NO vs. NYG
29. Pierre Thomas, NO vs. NYG
30. Willie Parker, PIT vs. CLE
31. Fred Jackson, BUF at NYJ
32. Julius Jones, SEA vs. ARI
33. Darren Sproles, SD vs. DEN
34. Jamal Lewis, CLE at PIT
35. Larry Johnson, KC at WAS
36. Willis McGahee, BAL at MIN
37. Michael Bush, OAK vs. PHI
38. Jamaal Charles, KC at WAS
39. Jerome Harrison, CLE at PIT
40. Mike Bell, NO vs. NYG

• Why do I have Brandon Jacobs above Ahmad Bradshaw? Isn't that insane? Bradshaw has 20 more yards rushing in 42 less carries. He's scored two touchdowns to Jacobs' one and has been much more active in the passing game. Well, it's a matter of competition. Bradshaw has gotten fat (stat-line-wise, not waist-line-wise) against three pathetic teams -- the Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders. Against strong competition, like the Saints and their seventh-ranked run defense, the Giants will lean more on their bell cow and feed him the goal-line carries.

• On the other side of the ball in that game, the New Orleans backfield situation is extremely tricky to get a good read. Pierre Thomas has missed practice time this week and Mike Bell has not. The Saints have stated they want to get Bell back involved in the game plan, even if Thomas is healthy. At this point, neither is an overly advisable option against the Giants' stout front. In fact, expect the Saints to avoid the hearty Giants pass rush by swinging quick passes outside to Reggie Bush often. Thus, we actually like Bush best of the trio.

• Pay close attention to how things go in the Steelers game. The sentiment that Mendenhall has stolen Willie Parker's job has not been confirmed by Mike Tomlin or anyone else with the Steelers. It's entirely possible they'd like to get Parker back into action against the sub-par defense of the Browns this weekend. We still like Mendy much more, but we can't conclude the battle is over just yet.

• Leaving Peterson No. 1 on this list wasn't laziness. Peterson is the leading point-scorer per week for running backs and the Vikings are playing at home in a game that should be close the entire way. It's true the Ravens are traditionally a pretty tough team to run against, but Cedric Benson pierced them for 120 yards and a touchdown last week. Who is the better talent: Benson or Peterson? Exactly.

• Speaking of Benson, if he doesn't have a solid day against the Texans, we'll have to start re-evaluating their defense. After three games, they were the worst run defense in the NFL, but they've held down the running attacks of the Raiders and Cardinals in the past two. Now, we can write those off as a fluke. Like I said, though, if they shut down Benson, we'll have to consider them improving.

• Enjoy the good week from Portis -- if you even get one -- because it's likely to be one of his last in 2009. The Redskins schedule has been pathetic thus far and he's barely been serviceable behind a patchwork offensive line. After this week, they'll start to play real competition, so it's lights out for CP26.